In 1978, alto saxophonist Sadao Watanabe, a jazz hero in his homeland, joined three American colleagues before a knowledgeable and wildly enthusiastic crowd in a Japanese auditorium. That night, he was a pure bebopper, burning bright. Everything clicked from the first tune to the last, with the late Hank Jones and Ron Carter at the top of their games and Tony Williams surpassing himself with some of his hottest drumming. The songs are Billy Strayhorn's lovely "Chelsea Bridge," an invigorating take on the samba "Mahnã de Carnaval," and three uptempo workouts (on Charlie Parker's "Moose the Mooch" and "Confirmation" and Jerome Kern's "I'm Old Fashioned").

"Bristling with a physical, Phil Woods-like virtuosity, Watanabe holds nothing back…. Carter and pianist Hank Jones balance out Watanabe and Williams with poise and finesse. Carter is well-placed in the mix, with a clean sound that captures the finer elements of his gifts. Jones' swinging elegance keeps things focused."—All Music Guide